Folding twin beds



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C. R. BALL FOLDING TWIN BEDS Filed June 30, 1926 WITNESSES @I 77 @vwal/ Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNTED ST1-'ES 1,683,149 ATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE R. BALL, F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

FOLDING TWIN BEDS.

Application filed June 30.

This invent ion relates to folding twin beds, comprising two beds combined with a single main frame, which forms a part of the support for each bed at night, and into which s they may be folded in the daytime.

rllhe object ot the invention is, primarily. to provide a simple, convenient and compact construction, which combines the most desirable features of the ordinary flat bed and if of the ordinary folding bed, as well as other valuable features possessed by neither; a construction which is light easily moved from one room to another, and assembled or disas seinbled without the use of tools, and which if is at the same time strong and durable, sanitary and economical.

The specific construction of the invention and the advantages resulting therefrom will be more particularly explained in connection with the accompanyingr drawings, which illustrate the saine in its preferred form.

lu the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention, showing one bed open and the other bed folded within the frame.

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the saine.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing one of the latches for holding the beds in folded position.

Figure l is a detail View illustrating one of the bed su p porting elements.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective View of one ofthe bars for retaining the mattress and bed clothing on the bed when the latter is folded.

:. The main frame, which constitutes a part of the invention, is of standard length but comparatively narrow, and comprises corner posts 1, provided with castors 2 at their lower ends, and rigidly connected by end rails 3. i which are comparatively low down, so that there is a clear space between the posts above the beds. The posts are connected at each side of the frame by two side rails 4, having at their ends the usual lugs 5, which are detach- Je. ably connected to the posts.

Hach of the twin bed frames comprises end rails 6, rigidly connected by side rails '7, and has woven wire springs 8 stretched from one end rail to the other. Each end rail 6 has a suspension bearing or retaining bar 9 secured to its under side near the end which is adjacent the main frame, and this suspension bearing or retaining bar is formed at each end with a hook 10, adapted to limit the lateral f-f movement ofthe bed with respect to the main frame by its engagement with a sleeve or for a nurse and patient.

1926. Serial No. 119,765.

roller 11, mounted on a supporting stub 12, which is secured to the adjacent side rail f1.

The stubs 12 may be either rigid or resilient, and serve as supports for the inner side of the bed when it is unfolded, as shown in the left hand portions of Figures 1 and 2. o they may serve to retain the lower portion of the bed when it is folded into the main frame, as shown in the right hand portions of Figures 1 and 2.

The outer portion of each twin bed frame is provided with legs 13, which aie connected to each other by a rail 14, and which are pivotcd at their upper ends, as shown at 15, so as to told into angle bars 16 secured to the end rails G. The legs 13 are provided with the usual braces 1T, having elbow joints 18.

.The outer rail 7 of each twin bed frame has slidable latches 19 mounted at its ends, and adapted to be projected beyond the respective corner posts 1, as shown in Figure 3, to retain the upper side of the bed frame within the main frame when it is folded. Each twin bed frame is also provided with suitable head and foot rails 20.

A number of detached rails 21 are provided for each bed, and are formed with notches 22 at the ends, adapted to engage underneath the respective rails to retain the mattress 23 on the bed, and whatever bed clothing may be used, so that the bed may be folded without disarranging the saine. The detached rails 2l are preferably made in the shape shown in Figure 5, so as to secure the greatest rigidityv with minimum weight. The rails 20 are U- sha'ped, and it is preferred to provide a plurality ot' such rails for each end, so as to allow for the use of mattresses of different thicknesses. Slings 24 are provided in the form ot' slack chains, connected at their ends to the rails 7 and 14 respectively, and adapted to serve as holders for the rails 21 when the latter are not in use.

Then the twin beds are unfolded, they may be adjusted into juxtaposition to each other, so that the same covers may be used for both beds, or they may be adjusted outwardly, s0 as to form two separate beds with an aisle between them. In this latter position, the beds are adapted for a parent and child, or

The passage between them is clear for persons to step from one bed to the other, or for convenience in making up the beds. The separation between the two beds secures the same sanitary conditions as the use of two separate beds, and

when the beds are not in use, they may be t'olded into the main frame, so as to occupy less space than one ordinary bed. In fact, the main trame may be made narrow enough` so that il may be moved through door way,` without taking the same apart7 and at the same time the two beds, when folded, will be spaced trom each other, so that there is a free circulation ot air between them. In case the supporting stubs 1'2 are made ot spring steel. a similar spring suspension devices may also be provided at the outer sides Ot the bed frames. It is also to be noted that the provision ot two rails 3 and Ll at each end and each side ot the main traine, secures greater rigidity than the usual bedstead structure, while leaving the space at each end between the corner posts and above the beds entirely unobstructed.

'hiie I have shown and described in considerable detail, the specific construction ot thev invention in its present torni, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made therein without any material departure from the salient features ot the invention as expressed in the claims.

That is claimed is:

l. In a twin hed structure. the combination with an open main frame including corner posts and side and end rails connecting the same only at the lower portions of the posts, ot a bed trame at each side of the main frame, means on the main frame and bed trames whereby the latter have a combined laterally folding and sliding movement on the former to permit the bed Jframes to abut each other or to provide a passageway therebetween when open, legs for supporting the outer sides ot the bed trames when they are in horizontal position. and means it'or retaining said bed trames in vertical position within the main trame and in spaced relation to each other.

Q. In a twin bed structure, the Combination of a main trame having a side rail with resilient supporting stubs secured to its upper side` a bed trame including side and end rails, the latter having bars secured to their under sides and resting on said stubs, each of said hars being formed with a hook at each end to limit the relative lateral movement ot the bed trame, means for supporting the outer side of the bed trame when it is opened to horizontal position`r and means for retaining it in vertieal position when it is folded upwardly about the stubs as an axis.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atlixed my signature.

CLARENCE R. BALL. 

